FAA probes laser strikes over LaGuardia
Planes line up on the tarmac for takeoff at LaGuardia Airport in February 2009. Credit: Newsday File / Julia Gaines
The Federal Aviation Administration is urging witnesses to contact police after someone aimed a green laser at six airliners as they landed at LaGuardia Airport over the weekend.
Lasers can blind or distract pilots. The laser came from a point about five miles southwest of the airport.
On Friday night, it hit commuter jets operated by Continental, US Airways, American Eagle and Transtates Airlines, which operates shuttle flights for both United and US Airways. The strikes occurred between 6:06 p.m. and 7:56 p.m.
On Saturday, a laser hit a Continental commuter jet and a United Boeing 757, both about 7 p.m. The planes were between 1,600 and 2,500 feet above New York at the time.
All of the airliners landed safely, FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said.
The FAA said anyone with information about the laser hits could call police or email LaserReports@faa.gov.
Laser strikes have become a serious problem in the United States as hand-held laser pointers have become cheaper and more powerful. Manufacturers also have introduced green lasers, which are more visible than red ones.
The number of planes hit by lasers rose from 283 in 2005 to 2,836 in 2010.
As of Oct. 20 there had been 2,795 laser strikes in 2011. Pilots in Phoenix have reported the most, with 96 there. Philadelphia was second with 95 and Chicago was third with 83.
In June, the FAA began imposing fines of up to $11,000 against people caught shining lasers at planes, and its lawyers are now pursuing 18 such cases.
Because there is no specific law against laser strikes, the FAA has been using an administrative rule that allows it to punish people who interfere with a flight crew performing its duties. The agency is also asking Congress to pass a law making laser strikes a crime.
